Webinar on Gender Equality and Open Science in Research(er) Assessment
Vilnius University, in partnership with UNESCO, hosted a webinar exploring the intersection of Gender Equality (GE) and Open Science (OS) in Research(er) Assessment (RA) as part of the OPUS consortium. The session aimed to understand how GE and OS can be better integrated into institutional policies and assessment practices across pilot organisations. The workshop highlighted that both GE and OS share a common goal - making the research ecosystem more equitable, transparent, and inclusive. Participants discussed how open practices, such as data sharing and citizen science, can enhance recognition of diverse contributions, particularly those often undervalued in traditional research evaluation.
Key findings from the pre-event survey revealed:
- Most institutions have GE policies but limited alignment with OS principles.
- Women’s visibility and career advancement remain a priority.
- Few institutions collect or apply gender-disaggregated data to OS activities.
- Strong demand exists for training on GE concepts, bias awareness, and gender mainstreaming.
Recommendations for action included:
- Embedding GE into OS-related policies and career progression systems.
- Collecting and analysing GE-disaggregated data in OS activities.
- Addressing bias and power dynamics in open publishing.
- Expanding training and awareness on GE in OS and RA.
- Encouraged by positive feedback, the consortium agreed to host a public follow-up workshop in 2025 to deepen capacity building and share lessons learned.